Supporting member for heated tobacco and cartridge for heated tobacco

ABSTRACT

A supporting member for tobacco heating which adjusts the shape and the arrangement of the hole and a cartridge for tobacco heating, are provided. 
     A supporting member for tobacco heating  12  which is provided in between a cigarette filling aggregate  10  and an inhalation opening  14  of a cartridge for tobacco heating  1 , the supporting member for tobacco heating  12  comprising: a first end surface  30 ; a second end surface  31 ; and a peripheral surface portion  32 : wherein a hole  40  running through from the first end surface  30  to the second end surface  31  is formed, and the hole  40  has, on the first end surface  30  or the second end surface  31 , a first through-hole  41  arranged so as not to include a central axis C of the peripheral surface portion  32.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a supporting member for tobacco heating used in a tobacco heating (device) having a cigarette filling including a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant as a material, and a cartridge for tobacco heating having the same.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, in order to match a tendency to quit smoking, tobacco heating products for enjoying tobacco applying heating a cartridge containing a tobacco component without using a flame (combustion) so as to inhale a vaporized tobacco component are getting popular. A cartridge for tobacco heating comprises: a cigarette filling, which is inserted for heating into a heating body such as a blade that a tobacco heating body has; a filter provided on an inhalation opening; and a supporting member provided in between the cigarette filling and the filter, wherein the cartridge is formed by being wrapped with a packaging material such as a paper. Examples of such supporting members for tobacco heating and cartridges for tobacco heating include Patent Literature 1.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature 1

JP 3212228 U

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

A supporting member for tobacco heating not only allows an air to flow through a cigarette filling but also is capable of preventing the filling from falling out while supporting one end portion of the cigarette filling when a heating body is inserted into the cigarette filling. Thus, the supporting member for tobacco heating has a hole running therethrough in the length direction and the other portions than the hole supports the cigarette filling.

In a cross section of the supporting member for tobacco heating, a plane orthogonal to the length direction, a region of the hole is a void. If a porosity (hole area) in the cross section is high, the air flow rate from the cigarette filling to the inhalation opening can be higher. However, if the porosity is too high, the capability of supporting the cigarette filling decreases. In addition, the way how the hole is arranged in the cross section affects the capability of supporting the cigarette filling. Thus, provided optimizing the shape and the arrangement of the hole is optimized, both the air flow rate and the capability of supporting the cigarette filling can be well attained.

The present invention is made in consideration of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a supporting member for tobacco heating, which has an optimized shape and arrangement of the hole, and a cartridge for heated tobacco having the same.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the object, according to one aspect of claim of the present invention, there is provided a supporting member for tobacco heating, which is provided in between a cigarette filling aggregate and an inhalation opening of a cartridge for tobacco heating, the supporting member for tobacco heating comprising:

-   -   a first end surface; a second end surface; and a peripheral         (surrounding) surface portion: wherein     -   a running hole from the first end surface to the second end         surface, and     -   the hole, relative to the first end surface or the second end         surface, is a first through-hole arranged other than a central         axis of the peripheral, surrounding surface portion.

In addition, in the supporting member for tobacco heating according to one aspect of a claim of the present invention, comprises a plurality of the first through-holes relative to the first end surface or the second end surface, along a peripheral, surrounding direction.

In addition, in the supporting member for tobacco heating according to another aspect of a claim of the present invention, the first through-hole comprises an elliptic arc, of which center is on a circle having a constant radius from a central axis of the peripheral surrounding surface portion, at least in a part of the first end surface or the second end surface.

In addition, in the supporting member for tobacco heating according to one aspect of a claim of the present invention, the hole comprises the elliptic arc in an outer side relative to the first end surface or the second end surface.

In addition, in the supporting member for tobacco heating according to one aspect of a claim of the present invention, the hole comprises a second through-hole running from the first end surface to the second end surface and including a central axis of the peripheral surrounding surface portion.

In addition, in the supporting member for tobacco heating according to one aspect of a claim of the present invention, in the peripheral surrounding surface portion, an uneven element having an uneven structure that are formed along a peripheral circumference direction and over the entire length in the length direction from the first end surface to the second end surface.

In addition, in the supporting member for tobacco heating according to one aspect of a claim of the present invention, a plurality of the uneven elements is formed over the entire peripheral circumference of the peripheral surrounding surface portion.

In addition, the cartridge for tobacco heating according to one aspect of a claim of the present invention comprises a cigarette filling aggregate, an inhalation opening, and the supporting member according to any one of the claims of the present invention, which is provided in between the cigarette filling aggregate and the inhalation opening.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to the supporting member for tobacco heating of the present invention, the supporting member comprises a first through-hole, so that even if an area of a hole is enlarged, a cigarette filling aggregate can be supported securely, and when a cartridge for tobacco heating is being held by a hand, the supporting member can be prevented from being collapsed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view being cut with a plane including a central axis along the length direction of a cartridge for tobacco heating in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a use aspect of the cartridge for tobacco heating.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a supporting member.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the front surface of a first end of the supporting member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a supporting member of the first alternative embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the supporting member of the first alternative embodiment provided on a cartridge for tobacco heating with a plane orthogonal to the length direction.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the front surface of a first end of a supporting member of a second alternative embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the front surface of a first end of a supporting member of a third alternative embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view showing the front surface of a first end of a supporting member of a fourth alternative embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the front surface of a first end of a supporting member of a fifth alternative embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view showing the front surface of a first end of a supporting member of a sixth alternative embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a cartridge for tobacco heating 1 with a cigarette filling aggregate 10 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the cartridge for tobacco heating 1, the approximately cylindrical tobacco filling aggregate 10 which is filled with multiple tobacco fillings 20, a supporting member for tobacco heating 12 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a supporting member 12), and a filter 14 serving as an inhalation opening are arranged in the length direction and wrapped around by a sheet packaging member 16 to be integrally formed.

The elongated cigarette fillings 20 are bundled in the length direction and wrapped around by a sheet packaging body 25, and thus, the cigarette filling aggregate 10 is formed to have an approximately cylindrical shape. The cigarette filling 20 is formed of a non-tobacco plant. However, the cigarette filling 20 can be formed of a tobacco plant as well.

The cigarette filling 20 is formed by mixing a dried and crushed non-tobacco plant with an aerosol former for generating an aerosol, a microcrystalline cellulose, an flavor additive, a preservative, an adhesive, a thickener, or the like so as to form a sheet, and thereafter, cutting the sheet such that the sheet has a predetermined width and length. However, the cigarette filling 20 can be formed as a dust (fine particles).

The supporting member 12 allows an air including an aerosol generated in the cigarette filling aggregate 10 to flow to a side of the filter 14. A first end surface 30 of the supporting member 12 is in contact with an end surface of the cigarette filling aggregate 10, and a second end surface 31 of the supporting member 12 is in contact with on an end surface of the filter 14. The supporting member 12 has a hole 40 extending from the first end surface 30 to the second end surface 31 and an air flows through the hole 40. The filter 14 is a sponge-like porous body and is formed in a cylindrical shape.

In the present embodiment, the cartridge for tobacco heating 1 is formed to have a diameter of 6.5 to 4.5 mm and a length of 40 to 49 mm. In addition, the cigarette filling aggregate 10 has a length of 11 to 13 mm. However, the cartridge for tobacco heating 1 and the cigarette filing aggregate 10 may have any other dimensions.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a usage form of the cartridge for tobacco heating 1. The cartridge for tobacco heating 1 is used by being mounted on a tobacco heating body 2. The tobacco heating main body 2 has an insertion section 51 into which the cartridge for tobacco heating 1 is inserted. The insertion section 51 includes a needle-shaped or blade-shaped heating unit 50 to be inserted into the cigarette filling 20 of the cartridge for tobacco heating 1. The heating unit 50 can generate an aerosol from the cigarette filling 20 by generating heat in a state of being inserted into the cigarette filling 20. In this state, a user inhales through the filter 14, and thus, can inhale an air including the aerosol.

The supporting member 12 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the supporting member 12. The supporting member 12 is a cylindrical member formed of resin. A kind of Silicon is a known example of the resin material forming the supporting member 12. However, the supporting member 12 may be formed of any other resin materials, e.g., wood enhancing cooling, and materials such as metal (aluminum or the like) other than resin materials.

As shown in FIG. 3, the supporting member 12 has a first end surface 30, a second end surface 31, and a peripheral surrounding surface portion 32. The supporting member 12 has a hole 40 running from the first end surface 30 to the second end surface 31. The hole 40 serves as a channel which allows an air including an aerosol generated in the cigarette filling aggregate 10 to flow to a side of the filter 14.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the front of the first end surface 30 of the supporting member 12. The cross section of the supporting member 12 being cut with a plane orthogonal to the length direction has the same shape from the first end surface 30 to the second end surface 31. Thus, the cross section has the same shape as in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, a hole 40 has a first through-hole 41 arranged on an outer peripheral portion so as not to include a central axis C of a peripheral surface portion 32. The first through-hole 41 has an elliptic shape, with a longer shape in the peripheral direction than in the radial direction of the supporting member 12. Three of the first through-holes 41 are provided along the radial direction. An ellipse center P of the first through-hole 41 is arranged on a virtual circle V with a constant radius from the central axis C respectively. In addition, the ellipse center P is arranged with each interval of 120 degrees in the peripheral direction around the central axis C respectively. Thus, three of the first through-holes 41 are arranged at equal intervals in the peripheral direction.

The first end surface 30 has a part of the hole 40 as a void with other part as solid, and this solid part is in contact with an end surface of the cigarette filling aggregate 10. The cigarette filling aggregate 10 receives force in the length direction when a heating unit 50 of a tobacco heating body 2 is inserted, thereby the solid part of the supporting member 12 that is in contact with it being able to support the cigarette filling aggregate 10. The hole 40 of the present embodiment, being arranged on an outer peripheral portion of the supporting member 12 so as not to include a central axis C of the peripheral surrounding surface portion 32 and having the first through-hole 41 with a longer shape in the peripheral direction than in the radial direction of the supporting member 12, allows a thickness between an outer peripheral end of the first end surface 30 and an outer peripheral end of the first through-hole 41 to be enlarged. Thus, the solid part of the outer peripheral portion of the first end surface 30 can be widened, thereby the cigarette filling aggregate 10 being able to be supported securely. In addition, the solid part of the outer peripheral portion of the first end surface 30 being wide can prevent the shape from being collapsed when a part of the supporting member is held by a hand.

The area of the hole 40 to the area of the first end surface 30 is calculated as a porosity. The porosity can be set in the range of 50% or less, or of 75% or more. Preferably, the porosity is in the range of 35 to 50%. The porosity in FIG. 4 is 34.3%. By forming the first through-hole 41 longer in the peripheral direction of the supporting member 12, the porosity can be secured and the rate of the air flow can be enhanced, and by forming a thick solid part on an outer peripheral portion a retention of the cigarette filling aggregate 10 can be enhanced.

Next, a first embodiment of the supporting member will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a supporting member 13 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the supporting member 13 has a first end surface 30, a second end surface 31, and a peripheral surface portion 32, and a hole 40 running from the first end surface 30 to the second end surface 31 being formed. The hole 40 has the same shape as the supporting member 12 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The supporting member 13 in FIG. 5 has multiple uneven elements 45 on the peripheral surface portion 32. The uneven elements 45 have a finely uneven shape along the peripheral direction of the supporting member 13. In addition, the uneven elements 45 are formed over the entire length in the length direction from the first end surface 30 to the second end surface 31 of the peripheral surface portion 32 of the supporting member 13.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of cutting the supporting member 13 of the first embodiment provided on the cartridge for tobacco heating 1 with a plane orthogonal to the length direction. As shown in FIG. 6, multiple small void portions are formed by the uneven parts 45 between a packaging member 16 wrapped around an outer periphery of the supporting member 13 and the peripheral surface portion 32 of the supporting member 13. Such void portions are formed continuously from the first end surface 30 to the second end surface 31 of the supporting member 13, allowing a part of the air from the cigarette filling aggregate 10 to the filter 14 to flow. Thus, a channel for the air can be added to the hole 40 to extend, allowing the air-flow rate to be enhanced.

In addition, by forming the uneven elements 45 on the peripheral surrounding surface portion 32, in the manufacture of the cartridge for tobacco heating 1, the supporting member 13 can be held by an assembling machine to facilitate manufacturing.

Next, a second embodiment of the supporting member will be described. FIG. 7 is a view showing the front of a first end surface 61 of a supporting member 60 of the second embodiment. The supporting member 60 of the embodiment has a hole 63 in a different form from the supporting member 12 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the hole 63 does not include a central axis C and has a first through-hole 64 longer in the peripheral direction than in the radial direction.

The first through-hole 64 has an elliptic arc on a side facing a peripheral surface portion 62 of the supporting member 60, and has a semicircular shape with a straight part T on a side facing the central axis C of the supporting member 60. A center position P of an ellipse having the elliptic arc S is arranged on a virtual circle V with a constant radius from the central axis C of the peripheral surface portion 62. Four of the first through-holes 64 are arranged along the peripheral direction, with each center position P on the virtual circle V arranged with an interval of 90 degrees from each other.

The first through-hole 64 has the elliptic arc S on an outer peripheral side facing the peripheral surface portion 62, thereby a thickness between an outer periphery of the first through-hole 64 and the peripheral surface portion 62 can be secured sufficiently. In the case of FIG. 4, the whole of the first through-hole 41 is an elliptic arc, but in the case of FIG. 7, a part of the first through-hole 64 is an elliptic arc. It is preferable that the first through-hole at least has an elliptic arc in the range of 60 degrees around the center position P of the ellipse.

In addition, the hole 63 has a second through-hole 65 including the central axis of the peripheral surface portion 62. The second through-hole 65 has a circular shape around the central axis C. By providing the second through-hole 65, the porosity of the supporting member 60 can be improved.

Next, a third embodiment of the supporting member will be described. FIG. 8 is a view showing the front of a first end surface 71 of a supporting member 70 of the third embodiment. The supporting member 70 of the embodiment also has a hole 73 in a different form from the supporting member 12 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 8, the hole 73 has a first through-hole 74 which doesn't include a central axis C and a second through-hole 75 which includes the central axis C.

Four of the first through-holes 74, with a circular shape, are arranged with each interval of 90 degrees in the peripheral direction. In addition, the second through-hole 75, with a circular shape, is arranged around the central axis C. In the embodiment, by decreasing a diameter of the first through-hole 74 a thickness of the outer peripheral surface portion of the supporting member 70 is secured, and by increasing the number of the first through-holes 74 the porosity is secured. The porosity in the embodiment is 24.8%.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the supporting member will be described. FIG. 9 is a view showing the front of a first end surface 81 of a supporting member 80 of the fourth embodiment. The supporting member 80 of the embodiment also has a hole part 83 in a different form from the supporting member 12 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 9, the hole 83 has a first through-hole 84 which doesn't include a central axis C and has a second through-hole 85 which includes the central axis C.

Five of the first through-hole 84, with a circular shape, are arranged with each interval of 72 degrees. In addition, the second through-hole 85, with a circular shape, is arranged around the central axis C. In the embodiment, by increasing the number of the first through-holes 84, furthermore the porosity is secured. The porosity in the embodiment is 29.7%.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the supporting member will be described. FIG. 10 is a view showing the front of a first end surface 91 of a supporting member 90 of the fifth embodiment. The supporting member 90 of the embodiment also has a hole 93 in a different form from the supporting member 12 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 10, the hole 93 has a first through-hole 94 which doesn't include a central axis C and a second through-hole 95 which includes the central axis C.

In the first through-hole 94, an outer peripheral side facing the peripheral surface portion 92 is arcuate on the outer peripheral side, and a side of the central axis C is also arcuate on the outer peripheral side. The center position of a circle with the circular arc of the outer peripheral side of the first through-hole 94 has each interval of 72 degrees similarly to the fourth embodiment, five of the first through-holes 94 being arranged. The second through-hole 95, with a circular shape, is arranged around the central axis C. The porosity in the embodiment is 27.4%.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the supporting member will be described. FIG. 11 is a view showing the front of a first end surface 101 of a supporting member 100 of the sixth embodiment. The supporting member 100 of the embodiment also has a hole 103 in a different form from the supporting member 12 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 11, the hole 103 has, in the radial direction, three of the first through-holes 104 which do not include a central axis C of the peripheral surface portion 102. The first through-hole 104 has a circular shape whose center position is arranged with each interval of 120 degrees in the peripheral direction of the first end surface 101. The porosity in the embodiment is 34.5%.

As mentioned above, the embodiment of the present invention is described. However, the application of the present invention is not restricted to this embodiment, and the present invention can be variously applied within a range of a technical idea. For example, in the present embodiment, only the support member 12 is provided in between the cigarette filling aggregate 10 and the filter 14. However, a cooling member may be provided in between the support member 12 and the filter 14.

Moreover, the first through-hole longer in the peripheral direction than in the radial direction may have a non-ellipse shape.

Moreover, the supporting 13 member having the uneven elements 45 on the peripheral surface portion 32 is described as an example of the embodiment of the supporting member 12 shown in FIG. 3. However, uneven elements may be provided on a peripheral surface portion of the supporting member of the second to sixth embodiment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 cartridge for tobacco heating

2 tobacco heating body

10 cigarette filling aggregate

12 supporting member

14 filter

16 packaging member

20 cigarette filling

25 packaging body

30 first end surface

31 second end surface

32 peripheral surrounding surface portion

40 hole

41 first through-hole

45 uneven element

50 heating unit

51 insertion section 

What is claimed is:
 1. A supporting member for tobacco heating, comprising: a first end surface; a second end surface; a peripheral surrounding surface portion; and a hole defined in said supporting member running through from said first end surface to said second end surface; wherein said supporting member is in place in between a cigarette filling aggregate and an inhalation opening of a cartridge for tobacco heating, and said hole further comprising: at least one first through-hole placed outside a central axis of said peripheral surrounding surface portion relative to respective said first end surface and said second end surface.
 2. The supporting member for tobacco heating, according to claim 1, wherein: a plurality of said first through-holes are in place along a peripheral surrounding direction relative to respective said first end surface and said second end surface.
 3. The supporting member for tobacco heating, according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one first through-hole, further comprises: an elliptic arc having a center thereof that is on a circle having a constant radius from said central axis of said peripheral surrounding surface portion as at least a part thereof relative to respective said first end surface and said second surface.
 4. The supporting member for tobacco heating, according to claim 3, wherein: said at least one through-hole further comprises: said elliptic arc in an outer peripheral side relative to respective said first end surface and said second end surface.
 5. The supporting member for tobacco heating, according to claim 1, wherein: said at least one through-hole further comprises: at least a second through-hole running from said first end surface to said second end surface and including said central axis of said peripheral surrounding surface portion.
 6. The supporting member for tobacco heating, according to claim 1, wherein: said peripheral surrounding surface portion further comprises at least one uneven element having an uneven form along said peripheral circumference direction; and said uneven element is formed over an entire length in a length direction from said first end surface to said second end surface.
 7. The supporting member for tobacco heating, according to claim 6, wherein: a plurality of said uneven elements are formed over said entire circumference of said peripheral surrounding surface portion.
 8. A cartridge for tobacco heating, comprising: a cigarette filling aggregate; an inhalation opening; and a supporting member according to claim 1 interposed in between said cigarette filling aggregate and said inhalation opening. 